Three Navalny Lawyers Sentenced in Russia

Three lawyers who represented the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three and a half to five and a half years on charges of involvement with extremist groups, as defined by Russian authorities. This sentencing, viewed as part of a broader Kremlin crackdown on dissent, occurred in a closed trial in Petushki, with the lawyers accused of relaying messages from Navalny to his associates. Navalny, who died in February 2023 while serving a 19-year sentence for alleged extremism, had previously condemned the legal actions against his lawyers as reminiscent of Soviet-era repression. The Kremlin's actions against Navalny's network, deemed extremist in a 2021 ruling, are seen as politically motivated efforts to stifle opposition. Supporters of the lawyers expressed solidarity during the trial, indicating the ongoing resistance against the government's actions. The case highlights the precarious state of legal representation for political activists in Russia.